John Miles, the English singer born April 23, 1949, in Jarrow, remains chiefly associated with his rock ballad “Music.” His earliest notable group, the Influences, also introduced drummer Paul Thompson of Roxy Music and guitarist Vic Malcolm of Geordie. Once that band dissolved, Miles assembled the John Miles Band, shifted base to London in 1975, and promptly signed with Decca.
Rebel, his first album, appeared the next year and featured the U.K. hit “Highfly.” The follow-up single, the epic ballad “Music,” reached the British Top Five and opened the door to a U.S. tour alongside Elton John. Stranger in the City, released in 1977, delivered the Top Ten single “Slow Down,” but later LPs—Zaragon in 1978, More Miles Per Hour in 1979, and Miles High in 1981—did not restore his initial momentum.
After Transition emerged in 1985, Miles supplied vocals for the Alan Parsons Project and Jimmy Page, then toured with Tina Turner and Joe Cocker. Eight years later he returned with the solo album Upfront. His recording activity tapered sharply after the mid-1990s, yet he maintained an active schedule of live dates and sideman engagements until his death on December 5, 2021, at age 72 following a brief illness.
